AQA, Edexcel & OCR GCSE Maths Past Papers

Click below to find why past papers are seen as one of the most effective tools for revisionRead more...

Writing exams can be stressful – they’re not just about assessing your knowledge on a particular subject, they’re also about managing stress and anxiety in an exam environment, time management, which information should be prioritised, understanding exam terminology and question styles, and how best to answer.
As a result, one of the best tools you can use in your exam preparation is past papers, as these will familiarise you with the above components and improve your ability to perform well.
Writing your GCSEs means you’ll be taking in a lot of information from the year in your revision period. But not all information is weighted equally in the exams. By taking past papers, you’ll be able to assess which topics and themes come up often, what sections you know well, areas that need improving and those that need significant attention. Having this knowledge will help significantly in managing your study time effectively in the lead up to exams.
Speaking of time management, one of the benefits of past papers is that you’re able to familiarise yourself with the amount of time you can spend on various sections. By being prepared and organised, you’ll be able to plan the various sections of your exam better, which means there’s less likelihood of having to rush or battling with stress and anxiety – all of which can negatively impact your performance.
The exam environment is quite different to that of the classroom and so past papers are particularly useful in familiarising yourself with sitting an exam, the terminology and vocabulary used, as well as practical insight into key themes and subject areas. You’ll also get to know the typical number of questions, the styles of questions such as yes/no, tick boxes/multiple choice, word responses, statement answers, as well as the number of choices for each.
It’s important to note, however, that past papers aren’t to be solely relied on in your exam preparation. Past papers are a supplementary study tool to be used in conjunction with revision of the work you’ve covered in the year. Thorough preparation is key to performing well and keeping healthy mentally, emotionally and physically.
Where can you get past papers? Well, here! We’ve got past papers with answer sheets on all GCSE subjects that will help you both prepare for and enjoy your milestone exams.